Lance Corporal Nicky Mason Way – official road naming

Aveley Bypass has been officially renamed Lance Corporal Nicky Mason Way in honour of Nicky Mason who died aged 26 serving his country in Afghanistan in 2008.

Lance Corporal Mason, who grew up in Aveley, was on patrol in near Kajaki in the Helmand province as part of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, when he was killed in an explosion on 13 September 2008.

His father Dennis Mason, who still lives in Aveley, has been campaigning for the road name for years. He was joined on Friday 27 May, by paratroopers serving in the same regiment as Lance Corporal Mason, around 100 local residents, Leader of Thurrock Council Cllr Rob Gledhill, Jackie Doyle-Price MP and Thurrock councillors along with David Van Day, who took up the campaign during his time as councillor for Aveley.

Mr Mason said:

“Nicky used to walk over that bridge to school so this could not be in a better place. We live nearby and this is something that will stand for many years in honour of Nicky and what he did.”

Cllr Gledhill said:

“This road commemorates a brave young man and the service he gave his country. There is nothing we can do to truly repay that debt but by naming this Lance Corporal Nicky Mason Way we can honour Nicky and Thurrock will have a permanent reminder of a remarkable young man in the place where he grew up.”